Gun control easier than sanity tests

The new theme in this round of gun control debates is mental health. The implication is if we "reform" our mental health system, we can get the crazies off the streets and away from guns. But this raises some thorny legal and health questions.

How do you protect against the individual who is on the fringe of the mental health system, not yet diagnosed but probably sick? The most recent killers were not diagnosed and had access to weapons through family members who were not crazy.

Do we "test" everyone at age 18 to screen out potentially unfit individuals? Who will set the standards? What about people who already own guns but who have the potential to become mentally unstable? Will you have to show a mental health certificate and pass a background check to purchase a gun?

Once the government has its foot in the mental health door, will we all have to undergo screenings at some point in our lives? How do we know the ones who screen us aren't crazy? Wouldn't it be easier, faster and less judgmental to just get rid of the AK-47s?

RICHARD CATO

Modesto